Simulated basketball game

ABSTRACT

A simulated basketball game wherein a playing surface is inclined toward an upright support which carries a goal or basket, and a ball projector is selectively locatable and adapted for aiming and shooting a ball toward the basket.

United States Patent Zaris Aug. 12, 1975 [541 SIMULATED BASKETBALL GAME 2,1 14,777 4/1938 Englerth 273/101 2,424,016 7 194 1. 7 [76] Inventor: Louis Zaris, 43 N. Tallahassee Ave., 2802 667 1 ggg I I I i: Atlamlc 08401 2,850,283 9/1958 Lm61S011..... 273 88 x 3,300,215 H1967 Coffey, Sr... 273/101 [22] 1973 3,561,762 7/1969 Russel] 273/103 [21] Appl. No.: 421,976 3,647,213 3/1972 Baker 273/101 Primary ExaminerRichard J. Apley 2.73/85 41 is, Assistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappello A 7 I t Y 58 Field ofSearch..... 273/85 E, 101, 1.5 R, 85 c, "omey Robert K 273/85 D, 102 S, 105 R, 103, 88; 124/4, 7, 41 ABSTRACT [56] References Cited 21% sin ulz teci bagkitballdgame whorkelin a playing UNITED STATES PATENTS ace is me me owar an uprig support w 1c carries a goal or basket, and a ball pro ector is selecg 273/85 E tively locatable and adapted for aiming and shooting a p1 man 1,903,254 3/1933 Bishop ban toward the basket 2,037,416 4/1936 Hull 273/85 E X 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SIMULATED BASKETBALL GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While there have, in the past, been provided a wide variety of aerial projectile type games simulative of basketball, and the like, these games have not found wide I skill, while enabling players of wide age groups to play against each other underfcpnditions' of close competi- I tion. r

SUMMARY INVENTION It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a game construction accurately simulating certain basketball play, which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, is extremely simple in structure so as to be adapted for economic mass production and sale at a reasonable price, while assuring long lasting reliability under adverse conditions of use.

It is still a further ,object of the present invention to provide a simulated basketball game construction which depends upon the players skill, while being adapted for use by persons of widely varying ages and permitting of rapid skill acquisition for closely competitive, interesting and attention absorbing games. v

It is'a more particular object of the. present invention to provide a simulated basketball game device having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the pre ceding paragraphs, wherein two or more persons may compete in a variety of basketball games, such as those called ONE ON ONE, TWENTY-ONE, DUCK,

' and others.

Other objects of thepresent invention,will'become a apparent upon reading the following specification and referring. to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS FIG, 1 is a top perspective view showing a simulated basketball structure of the instant invention in an operative condition of use.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevationalyiew taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG: 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 1, enlarged to better show detail of the ball projector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a game construction of the present invention is there generally designated l0, and is shown in position resting upon an upwardly facing ground surface, floor or table 11. The game construction may include a generally rectangular outer base or tray 12, say having a generally rect' angular bottom wall 13, arear edge wall 14 upstanding fromthe rear edge of bottom wall 13, and a pair of opposite side edge walls 15 upstanding from respective wide edges of the bottom wall. Additionally, a panel 16 may extend from the front edge of bottom wall 13, being hingedly connected thereto, and provided with end flaps 17 respectively adjacent to side walls 15. In practice, the base 12 may be integrally fabricated of cardboard, and may, if desired, constitute part of the game enclosure, package or box. That is, upon upward swinging of panel 16, as about hinged connection or crease 18, and securement of flaps 17 to adjacent side walls 15, thefbase tray 12 can provide one complemenftaryelementof a telescoping box.

Disposed conformably within the base tray 12 is a generally rectangular floor or board 20, which substantially completely overlies the bottom wall 13 of the base tray and inclines in the direction from bottom wall edge 18 toward base tray side wall 14. That is, the generally rectangular board 20 has its forward extremity or edge 21 extending along, coextensive with and resting on the nether edge or hinge connection 18 of base 13 and extends in inclined relation rearwardly therefrom to an upper, rear edge 22. The upper, rear edge 22 may extend along and be generally coextensive with the upper edge of rear side wall 14. A depending panel or strut 23 may be hingedly connected to and extend along the edge 22 of board 20, depending therefrom to the base tray bottom wall 13, and thereby supporting Provided generally centrally of the board 20 in a suitable arrangement, say rectangularly as illustrated, may I be a plurality of ball-receiving openings or holes, as at 25. That is, the ball-receiving holes 25 may open through the board 20, ,and be sized for receiving and retaining a playingball of the instant invention. Further, the upper surface of board 20 is marked adjacent to each hole 25, with characteristic indicia, such as the letters D and O, referring respectively to the defensive player and offensive player. Also, the upper surface or playing field of the board 20 is marked adjacent to each opening or hole 25 with the letters or abbreviation LU, signifying the hole represents a lay-up or short shot. Laterally outside of the area of the holes 25, the. upper playing surface of board 20 may be provided with nu- V -the rear edge flap or strut 23 of the card 20. In this manner, the sheet 30 may be removably supported in upstanding relation along the rear edge 22 of the card 20. Of course, other suitable detachable support means may be provided for the sheet or card 30.

A central upper region of the sheet or support 30 may be provided with marking or indicia, as at 32, representing a backboard, and awire hoop 33 may be carried by and project forwardly from the backboard region 32 of the support 30. The wire hoop or basket 33 may carry netting, as at 34 accurately simulative of a full size basket, and may be mounted by hinge means for swinging movement between a horizontally projecting operative position over the board 20, and a storage position swung upwardly toward the sheet or support 30.

An additional, generally rectangular board or extension is generally designated 40, being hinged to and coextensive with the forward edge 21 of board 20, and extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom, terminating in a forward edge 41 located at an elevation above that of the hinged connection 21. A depending. strut panel 42 may be hingedly connected to the rear: edge 41 of the card 40, as by a crease or fold, and depend into bearing engagement with the nether supporting surface 11. Thus, the additional card section or extension declines toward the card 20 and combines with the latter to define a lower region or gully along hinged connection or fold 21.

Generally centrally of the card section or extension 40, there may be formed therein a plurality of ballreceiving openings or holes 43, say six in number and arranged in a rectangular array, as illustrated. The upper or playing surface of the card extension 40 may be marked, as adjacent to respective holes 43 with the letters D and 0 corresponding respectively to defensive and offensive. Also, the upper, playing surface of card extension 40 may be marked adjacent to each hole with a numeral indicating point value.

The board section or extension 40 is further formed, at laterally spaced locations adjacent to its rearward edge 41, with a plurality of tracks, as at 45. The tracks serve to provide a relatively firm holding means for a ball projector, as will appear presently. In particular, each set of tracks 45 may be defined by an elongate through cut 46 arranged in a longitudinal direction extending generally toward and away from the basket 33. Extending transversely across opposite ends of the cuts 46 are a pair of cross cuts 47, which combine with the longitudinal cut 46 to define a pair of retaining flaps 48. The retaining flaps 48 are resiliently displaceable upwardly out of the plane of the surrounding material of board extension 40.

The ball projector is best seen in FIG. 4, and there generally designated 50. The ball projector may include an elongate, relatively wide base plate 51, and a resiliently flexible arcuate bow or bight region 52 extending from one end of the base and curving upwardly over the base. From the upper end of the bight 52, there extends an arm 53 obliquely over the base 51 and provided at its upper, free end with a manual deflecting end portion 54. A ball holding cup 55 has extending therefrom an arm 56, the free end of which is rotatively secured, as by suitable fastener means 57, to an intermediate region of the arm or bar 53. Thus, the ball holder or cup 55 may be selectively located laterally of the arm 53, as by swinging about the pivotal connection 57. Further. the projector 50 may be mounted on a selected track 45, as by sliding engagement of the projector base plate 51 beneath an adjacent pair of track flap portions 48, the condition shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. In this condition the projector may be slid longitudinally toward and away from the basket 35 within the limits of the track, the ball holder or cup rotated toward and away from the projector arm 53, and, of course, the arm 53 deflected downwardly a selected distance by depression of finger press portion 54, so that release thereof projects the ball generally toward the basket 33, according to the skill of the user.

While a wide variety of games may be played with the apparatus of the foregoing description, it is contemplated that simulated two-person games may be very interestingly played. such as ONE ON ONE, TWENTY-ONE, DUCK, and the like. For example, after the order of play is determined, as by the toss of a coin, the winner may be entitled to a predetermined number of shots from a predetermined fixed position, say one of the tracks. All basketsare recorded, and lay-up shots may be taken according to the fall of the ball in the lay-up holes 25. The other player then becomes the offensive player and takes his predetermined number of shots from the fixed position, which procedure is continued either a predetermined number of times, until a predetermined score is reached, or the like. Of course, it is not essential that all shots be taken from the track positions, but may be taken from other selected positions, either on the court composed of board 20 and extension 40, or outside of the court on surface 11. Also, premiums may be awarded for shots taken from certain more difficult locations, and other games may be played, as desired.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there is provided by the instant invention a simulated basketball game apparatus which is extremely simple in structure, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, can be economically manufactured and sold, is capable of highly attractive appearance in design, and which otherwise fully accomplishes its intended objects.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A simulated basketball game comprising a board having an inclined upper surface providing a playing field with one edge uppermost, said board having ballreceiving openings, offensive and defensive markings on said surface associated with respective ballreceiving openings, an upright support removably positioned at said one edge of said board upstanding therefrom, a base tray having side walls and removably receiving said board, said support having its lower region removably inserted between said board and one tray side wall, a basket carried by said support spaced over said playing field for receiving a projected ball, a separate ball projector freely selectively positionable for aerially projecting a ball toward said basket, and an extension on said board extending out of and beyond said tray opposite to said one tray side wall. said extension inclining away from said board and combining therewith to define a gully for receiving rolling balls.

2. A simulated basketball game according to claim 1, said extension having additional ball-receiving openings provided with additional respective offensive and defensive markings. I

3. A simulated basketball game according to claim 2, in combination with a plurality of separate tracks located in spaced relation on said extension for selectively removably receiving said ball projector.

4. A simulated basketball game according to claim 3, said projector comprising a base removably slidably engageable in a selected track, a bar connected at one end to said base and resiliently extending obliquely upwardly from said base to terminate at its other end spaced above said base, said bar being resiliently de- 5. A simulated basketball game according to claim 4, said tracks each comprising a pair of flaps extending toward and terminating short of each other for removable overlapping engagement with said projector base. 

1. A simulated basketball game comprising a board having an inclined upper surface providing a playing field with one edge uppermost, said board having ballreceiving openings, ''''offensive'''' and ''''defensive'''' markings on said surface associated with respective ball-receiving openings, an upright support removably positioned at said one edge of said board upstanding therefrom, a base tray having side walls and removably receiving said board, said support having its lower region removably inserted between said board and one tray side wall, a basket carried by said support spaced over said playing field for receiving a projected ball, a separate ball projector freely selectively positionable for aerially projecting a ball toward said basket, and an extension on said board extending out of and beyond said tray opposite to said one tray side wall, said extension inclining away from said board and combining therewith to define a gully for receiving rolling balls.
 2. A simulated basketball game according to claim 1, said extension having additional ball-receiving openings provided with additional respective ''''offensive'''' and ''''defensive'''' markings.
 3. A simulated basketball game according to claim 2, in combination with a plurality of separate tracks located in spaced relation on said extension for selectively removably receiving said ball projector.
 4. A simulated basketball game according to claim 3, said projector comprising a base removably slidably engageable in a selected track, a bar connected at one end to said base and resiliently extending obliquely upwardly from said base to terminate at its other end spaced above said base, said bar being resiliently deflectable downwardly and releasable for oblique upward spring movement, and a ball holder carried by said bar for movement therewith, said ball holder being pivotally connected to said bar for swinging movement to a selected position of adjustment about an axis normal to said bar.
 5. A simulated basketball game according to claim 4, said tracks each comprising a pair of flaps extending toward and terminating short of each other for removable overlapping engagement with said projector base. 